"No, she’s not." Catam shook his head. Then he turned and ran a finger over the blue, shiny material covering her shoulder. "Does it still hurt?"
"No. Meyrna gave me something for the pain. She said the quer bandage should heal the wound by tomorrow."
"Good." Catam’s face relaxed in relief, and Lurin couldn’t help smirking at how the mighty Mardu had fallen.
"What are you grinning at?" Catam asked, puzzled.
"Not a thing. I just think it’s quite a coincidence how alike my situation is to Isa’s." He turned to Isa. "That’s how I met my wife, you know. She captured me and never let me go."
Lurin looked directly from Isa to Catam and waited for his meaning to sink in. Not soon after he spoke, Isa blushed and refused to look at Catam.
"I, uh, I need to ask Meyrna a few more questions." She deliberately pulled the physician a good distance away.
Catam waited until she was out of earshot. "What the hell was that about?"
"You really don’t know?" Lurin waited for Catam to refute him, but he didn’t. The Mardu looked thoughtful, then he frowned.
"Things are complicated, Lurin. It’s not as easy as admitting the words."
"It’s a start." Lurin leaned closer. "Don’t make the mistake I made. I almost waited too late to see the truth. Open yourself to the possibilities, Catam."
"But my life is on Mara’s Light. I’m a bounty hunter. That’s what I do."
"Why?"
"Why?" Catam sputtered. "Because I was bred to track, to hunt. I’m not like my brothers. I’m no peacemaker."
"Fine. But why can’t you and Isa have a future?"
"She’s a criminal, Lurin. Sooner or later she’ll have a bounty hunter after her. And it can’t always be me. Or worse, she’ll have another peacemaker on her tail."
Lurin saw the hurt cross his face before Catam cleared his expression. "Catam, you’re not thinking clearly."
"Unfortunately, I am. Look, I appreciate the help, Lurin. Now I need to check on Isa," he said and quickly joined her by the physician.
Lurin sighed and shook his head. Catam had seemed an intelligent man. Why was it the moment a woman entered the picture, rational thought suddenly vanished? Ah love, he thought as he studied the pair standing close together. True love’s path might cross and even diverge, but the end state would eventually be the same.
Lurin stared hard at the woman and tempted her to see him. She continued to nod at the physician, her leg brushing Catam’s. She didn’t react at all to his mental probe.
Interesting. Very interesting.
Chapter Ten
Four hours later, Catam and Isa stood in Isa’s new room on board Mara’s Light.
"It was really nice of my captain to lend you a room while you’re recuperating," Catam said calmly, willing Isa to stop her nervous pacing.
She frowned at him and continued to walk around the room, checking for listening devices, hidden monitors and anything else that might turn a dark light on his crewmates.
He sighed with exasperation. "By Flor’s dagger, Isa! It’s been several hours already. Don’t you think if they meant to get a bounty from you, we’d have drifted closer to Jintak in the west, instead of hovering over the north?" He nodded pointedly toward the portal.
She glanced over her shoulder and stared at the outline of the northern province against Mardu’s ocean.
"I’ll grant you the room is nice," she said with a brief glance at the bed. "But I’d much rather be in Tekar talking to Cheltam right now."
"Instead of being cooped up in a bedroom with me?" he asked with his usual charm. He kept his tone lighthearted, but his body thrummed at thoughts of Isa and a bed.
For the past week he’d taken her in the forest, against a tree, and in a closet. Having a bed available conjured delightful thoughts of Isa naked, thighs spread wide to surrender her sweetest offering.
His cock swelled at the thought.
"I’m still waiting to hear your explanation about what happened in the garden yesterday." She cleared her throat, her voice not as angry as he might have expected. That she strove to maintain eye contact told him she’d noticed his arousal.
Good. Let the anticipation build until she’s dripping wet for me.
He loosened his shirt and her eyes widened. Sitting on a nearby chair, he waited until she stopped pacing to begin. She sat on the bed and he wanted to grin with satisfaction.
"I told you I’m Mardu," he began, "specifically I’m Xema."
"And that means...?"
"That means I can do what other men can’t." His gaze lingered over her breasts, pleased when her nipples perked through her shirt. His eyes rose to see her blush and he smiled. "I have an ability, through heavy training and my bloodline, to enhance my senses. My sight, hearing and sense of smell are magnified when I ‘turn on,’ for lack of a better term, my abilities."
"The glowing eyes thing?"
He nodded. "Yes. My training also accounts for the blurring, that near-invisible trick I pulled on those guards at the Klin estate." He stared at her, serious now. "I wasn’t taking on more than I could handle, Isa."
"Five men at once? With phasers?" She seemed incredulous.
"Five men with phasers," he affirmed. "My kind live for the challenge, the thrill of the hunt. That’s why I make such a good bounty hunter. It’s my nature, Isa. The guards at the estate became a challenge, and while I admit I enjoyed the skirmish, I should never have put you in harm’s way." He stared down at his feet before letting her see the guilt in his eyes. "I’m so very sorry you were injured. I should have moved you out of the way before I attacked."
Her posture relaxed and he thought her anger might have abated. "But you were in harm’s way."
"No. I’m completely aware of my limitations." He stood, finished discussing, finished explaining. "And I’m also aware of my skills in certain areas."
"What areas?" she asked in a breathy voice. Her eyes deepened to forest green, reminding him of the moss bed where he’d first made love to her.
"Oh," he said as he approached her, "I’m a skilled tracker." He removed his shirt and toyed with the collar of hers. "I move quickly." With nimble fingers he removed her shirt and stared down hungrily at her flushed breasts. "And I never stop going after what I want."
He undressed in a hurry and removed the rest of her clothing. Then he startled a gasp from her with the quickness of his sensual attack. One minute he stood in front of her, the next he had her flat on her back in the bed.
"You’re fast." She welcomed him into her arms.
"Not always," he murmured with a grin and bent to kiss her.
The shock of oneness he felt when his lips touched hers no longer surprised him, and he reveled in their intimacy. Heat burned where they touched. She lit a fire in his belly, a need that went far beyond the physical. When she arched into his questing hands and greedily welcomed his tongue in her mouth, he couldn’t help longing for the moment to last.
He teased her tongue, caressing her flesh until she moaned and arched into him, wanting more. While he feasted on her mouth, he ran his palms along the sides of her body. Her curves fascinated him, soft and womanly, yet hard with muscle beneath. The body of a talented and lovely thief, one who’d stolen his heart.
He slipped his hands over her breasts and palmed their fullness, tweaking her nipples until they felt hard, burning into his chest and scoring twin paths of desire wherever they touched.
She moaned and twisted beneath him, and his shaft met moist warmth through her nest of curls.
"Please," she gasped and bucked, trying to force him inside her.
He ignored her plea and moved down her body, trailing his mouth over the heated flesh with a skill that left her moaning his name. He sucked and licked, leaving lovebites that were more pleasure than pain.
He laved her breasts, feasting on the rich mounds. Her nipples were like ripe berries, and he wanted to suck the fruits, to taste her sweet juice. He bit gently at the turgid peaks
and blew to arouse her further, aroused in turn when she pleaded for more.
Every brush of his cock against her body sent his pulse skyrocketing. He could feel a wave of desire building as he nudged down her breasts to her navel.
Her smooth, ivory skin was tight and begged for his touch. Yet it was her scent that drew him further down.
He continued to kiss her belly while his hands slipped from her breasts to her hips, and lower. His slid his hands from her hips to the front of her thighs and back, running his palms around to cup her buttocks.
Then he slid his fingers further, between her taut cheeks to the wetness between her thighs. She moaned and spread her thighs wide.
"Yes, love, I’m going to give you what you need," he whispered, fascinated with her feminine perfume. The more he scented, the harder he grew. Already he felt harder than a pike, her every brush against his cock a measure of sweet pain.
Yet the scent of her, her very essence drew him. With a prodding finger he slid past her buttocks to the wet core dripping with desire. He toyed and tested the extent of her need, pleased and further aroused when she coated his finger easily.
"Catam, I need you," she breathed and pressed harder on his finger.
He gave her what she desired and thrust the digit into her, delighting in her moan. Then he could wait no longer.
With his finger inside her and his other hand beneath her buttocks to lift her pelvis, he nosed through the dark ‘v’ of hair protecting her woman’s fruit and found the sweet treasure he’d been searching for.
He closed his eyes and with a deliberate and full stroke, tasted what he’d been longing to find forever. She sobbed his name and pressed into his mouth, and he knew he’d found that heavenly plane without wainu.
His tongue lapped her cream, devouring her essence, and he grew drunk on the taste of her. Her ecstatic cries only added to his high and he began thrusting his finger in and out of her as he suckled her clitoris, nibbling at the hard nub.
"Catam, I’m going to come," she moaned and thrust against his tongue, arching uncontrollably into his touch.
"Yes," he rasped. "Come for me, love, let me taste you. You’re so sweet, so spicy sweet." He groaned, unable to stop from pressing his sensitive cock against the bed.
Not wanting to come unless deep inside of her, he rose to his knees to free his cock from any touch but air. He buried his face in her pussy and licked her again and again, not getting enough of her.
He pleasured her clit until he knew she could take no more. Then he sucked hard, one long, last time, and she came.
She spasmed and cried out, and he felt a wash of sweetness hit his mouth. Moaning, he continued to lick until he could wait no longer.
On the edge, he grasped his cock lightly, only enough to guide into her. With one deep thrust he joined her. Her contractions, her scent, and her taste merged to drive him mad.
He pumped mindlessly, enraptured in her soft texture, and then he came, exploding into her with a force that made him dizzy. Pleasure washed over him as she continued to come, milking him of everything.
He poured everything into her, crushing her under him and unable to stop himself. But she didn’t seem to mind. She clenched his hips with her thighs and wrapped her ankles around his waist.
When he could, he looked down and saw her eyes shut tight, heard her breathing as labored as his. One final contraction pulsed around him and then she relaxed.
"Oh, baby," she gasped. Her arms and legs fell to her sides, and she lay limp, completely drained.
Feeling the same, Catam rolled onto his back beside her and sighed, awash in the rapture only Isa could provide.
"Your taste," he paused to lick his lips, "is ambrosia. Sweet and spicy." He turned his head to see her smile, her eyes closed. "I’m afraid it’s going to be addicting."
She chuckled, a weak sound that hinted at sleep. "I hope so. I’ve never experienced that before, but I want to do it again."
"Never?" He stared at her in surprise.
She kept her eyes closed and he saw a blush stain her cheeks. "Never. I can’t believe what I was missing."
"With me it only gets better," he teased, well aware he meant "only with me."
"We’ll do it again, then. As soon as I wake up," she slurred before her breath evened and she fell asleep.
Catam turned to face her, tracing her features with his eyes. In repose she looked like an angel, a perfect woman with which to share the rest of his life.
Hovering in wainu, the thought didn’t scare him. A life with Isa seemed predestined, and more, attainable. A dozen thoughts and possibilities presented themselves while he drifted in a haze of joy, until the possibilities became a plan of sorts.
He curled an arm around her, pleased when she turned and curled her backside into his groin. His cock stirred at the silken feel of her buttocks, but the immense pleasure in sex had taken its toll. He fell asleep holding her in his arms, dreams of the future and the past mixed into a blissful present.
* * * *
Isa snuggled deeper into the warmth surrounding her. Catam’s smell lingered and she inhaled, as if to take him into her lungs and spread him throughout the rest of her body.
She blinked at the light they’d forgotten to turn down and wondered how much time had passed. She felt remarkably relaxed, her arm didn’t throb and her mind felt clear of worry or care.
Catam mumbled something against her neck and pulled her closer to him. She felt his erection brushing her bottom and smiled, remembering how amazing it felt to be kissed and caressed down there.
By Flor’s heart, she’d never be able to look at Catam’s mouth again without remembering how it felt against her folds, how that raspy tongue felt stroking her clit.
She squirmed at the remembrance and Catam surprised her by easing his stiff shaft inside her. The position was something she hadn’t tried before, but thoughts left her as he began to pump. With one hand he pinched her nipples, and she closed her eyes, wanting to simply feel.
His breathing harsh against her neck, he thrust again and again while his fingers danced magic between her thighs. She came scant seconds before he did. Her body stiffened around his, and she could feel him pulse inside her. He came in great spurts and groaned her name before he finally relaxed.
"I can’t get enough of you," he admitted in a gravelly voice. He nuzzled her neck and thrust one final time before withdrawing. "You get so wet for me."
She blushed, aware of how responsive she was and how needy that made her seem.
"And I love the way you blush." He chuckled. "Didn’t I tell you before that if I had my way, I’d be fucking you every chance I could get?"
"You said something to that effect," she answered, embarrassed to feel so much loss once he pulled out.
How did he make her so needy? The more she had him, the more she wanted him. What did that mean?
"I can see your mind racing. What’s wrong? Didn’t I pleasure you enough?" he asked, sounding concerned.
"Enough?" She had to laugh. "Any more and I’d be unconscious. No," she lied, "just thoughts of Lady Klin and Statesman Bedenzi that won’t go away."
He kissed her on the shoulder. "I talked to Lurin about that. I’m going to arrange a meet with Cheltam for us. Lurin said they’ll drop us in Tekar. At least we’ll be able to avoid Voran authorities for a while." He paused. "But it’s only a matter of time before Sernal becomes agitated."
"Agitated?"
"My brother is a stickler for the rules. And on this mission I’ve bent more than my fair share."
Knowing he’d done so for her, she felt guilty. "I’m sorry if I’ve caused you trouble with your family."
He laughed, surprising her. "Isa, you’re the first person I’ve met that causes as much trouble as me. No wonder I can’t keep my hands off you." His smile turned into a grimace and he groaned. "Speaking of trouble, I was supposed to introduce you to Mara before we got so involved. Shit. I hope she’s in a better mood than when we boarded."
Isa both dreaded and wanted to meet the woman Catam spoke about with such respect. Knowing the woman was married to Lurin, a man any woman would covet, should have put Mara beyond Isa’s jealousy. Unfortunately, Isa’s heart and mind conflicted over Catam’s captain.
She and Catam dressed and left the room. They stopped first at the galley for a meal. While they walked, Isa envisioned a plain, stern woman that had somehow captured Lurin’s eye. The woman captained a bounty ship, after all. How feminine could she be? Those thoughts made her feel progressively better ... until they entered the galley.
"Well, well. Catam. It’s about damned time." A husky voice growled the less than pleasant greeting from behind them.
"Captain Mara," Catam began, oozing charm. "I was just telling Isa about you.
The woman snorted. "I’ll bet." Then she grabbed a plate of food and waited for them to join her.
Isa’s stomach soured as she stared at the sensual dynamo. Tall and lithe, with dark brown eyes that sparkled, Mara could easily make a killing as a pleasurer on Aran or Nebe6, for that matter. That Catam seemed beside himself to please the woman only irritated Isa further.
"So you’re Isa Araye," Mara said before biting into a small blue fruit.
Damn. She had all her teeth too. "I am."
Isa’s blunt words raised the captain’s brow. Isa kept her gaze on her plate, not wanting Catam to see the jealousy tugging at her heart. Let him think she had an aversion to bounty hunters in general, as she’d more or less already told him.
"You seem to have caused everyone a lot of trouble lately. Though my husband seems to like you."
Isa heard what sounded like a muttered curse. She turned to see Catam as intent on his food as she pretended to be, and dismissed the noise.
"Lurin seems pleasant enough, for a bounty hunter," Isa responded. She needed to remain pleasant. The captain was, after all, giving them a free ride, when she could have collected on Isa as a legitimate bounty.
Mara stared at both Isa and Catam, her eyes narrowed in study. She surprised Isa by suddenly laughing.
The Thief of Mardu Page 9